National team captain Norbert Szekely’s team – which finished fourth at the European Championships in June – has improved five places compared to its ranking in March, and already ranks ninth among European national teams.
The United States, China, Australia, Spain and Canada remained in the top five places in order, while European champion Belgium came in sixth place.
Next February, the Hungarians will compete in the Olympic qualifiers in Sopron from February 8 to 11.
The Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and Italy will jointly host the 2025 FIBA Women’s European Championship.
According to information from the International Federation (FIBA), it will be the first time in the history of the European Championships that the tournament will be held in four countries. The joint organization was introduced by FIBA in 2015, and since then two countries have hosted the European Championship: in 2015 Hungary and Romania, in 2019 Serbia and Latvia, in 2021 Spain and France, and this June Slovenia and Israel.
36 teams, which will include the four host nations, will participate in the qualifiers in one group named I. The remaining 32 teams will be divided into eight groups of four. In addition to the group winners, the four best runners-up qualify for the UEFA Women’s European Championship, so there will be a total of sixteen teams in the continental tournament.
The qualifying draw for the 2025 FIBA Women’s European Championship was held in the Swiss city of Messe.
The Hungarian team joined Slovenia, Bulgaria and Finland in the series that started in November. The girls will host Slovenia in their opening match on November 9. Norbert Szekely’s band will play in Finland three days later, followed by a year’s break.